I love that you explain everything that you do. I saw you on alone and wished you would have won. But thanks for explaining stuff! A lot of these other bush video guys don’t do that! So thanks!
Sir. You may have just saved a 64-year-old mans life. I was fired from my job, had my electric and gas shut off for nonpayment. And now I'm being evicted from my home of 22 years. This is just the beginning of winter here in Michigan. I'm going to have to live in my car for at least 3 months. A couple of weeks before getting fired I bought a sleeping bag at a rummage sale for 5.00 dollars. Its the US. Military style that has everything but the storage bag. Its 38 degrees in my room tonight and I am warm as toast! At first I didn't know how to get into the bag and thought it was way to short. But, watching you I was able to get into it and zip it up. I don't know what the future is going to bring, but thank you for giving me a crack at surviving it!! God bless you son!
@@67wing I'm doing good, I got caught up in my lot rent so I didn't get evicted. I got my electric turned on and had just enough money to get a 20 pound pig tank to run my camp stove through the winter. Also, I found out that I could substitute Coleman fuel for lighter fluid and therefore keep my hand warmer blazing through the whole winter! So here we are in spring again, praise God! 😁
I have a couple of buddies with the military bag, and I always wondered about the quality on these. The fact that you took one of these on Alone is testament to decent quality. Thanks for the review!
Great video Dave. I’ve had all four parts of the ECWSS (goretex bivouac bag, patrol bag, intermediate bag and compression sack) for a few years. At 6’ 1” and 240 this system has worked well for me and I like the versatility of the system. My only real test of the system came when I was sleeping in a hammock. The low temperature overnight was supposed to in the 40’s (the patrol bag is supposed to be good to 30 degrees Fahrenheit) with light rain. The weather forecast was a little off. The temperature where I was camping got down to 25 (my thermometer reading), 20 mph winds (my best guess) and the rain wasn’t light (thunderstorm). I wasn’t toasty in the patrol bag with the bivy but I wasn’t freezing (cool side of comfortable) and I slept well most of the night (except for big claps of thunder). We are in agreement that bag is a tad tight in the shoulders but I’ve always been able to close the face opening down to suit me. Thanks for posting this video I’ll check out the British sleeping bag, I’d never considered it.
I use a homemade el cheapo, it is 100% wool surplus blankets with a waxed canvas shell, it rolls up tight uses large buttons and there is room for two if needed. I had the old US cold weather bag years ago, I can't remember why I quit using it. Good Yule to you and your family.
Hey Spear Brave! Sounds like a nice rig. I thought about making something so it fits me the way I wanted.....but I haven't done it yet, LOL. I bought the british bag just to take out on Alone. There were size limits on how big of a bag you could take ( It had to fit in certain dimensions when compressed) ...And this was the heaviest bag I could squeeze into those dimensions.
Dave, I am 6'1" 193. Thin yes always have been. But I own a Surplus USMC extreme cold weather bag. I found at a flea market several yrs ago. I did have to do some minor sewing repair work to the foot. But the rest of the bag is there and in great shape. I sometimes snuggle down into the warmpth , to avoid turning on be my costly heater. This bag in about five minutes will have you unzipping and throwing open, it gets really warm and quickly. The first night I used this bag , the temperature was in the mid 20's now that's cold here for us Floridians. I felt like my blood was boiling and I was laying in a frying pan. I do own other military surplus sleeping bags, but hands down this USMC bag is my favorite for very cold temperatures. The woman I bought this from said if I didn't buy it she would most likely burn it!! Because of it's bulkiness and heavy weight. And I paid $80 bucks. I love that bag.. Stay safe in the woods.
Just to add a little about the British bag reviewed here, this is the Arctic bag issued from around the 90's through to mid 2000's - if memory serves. (Army reservist 85-99) The Army now uses an MSS based on the Carinthia Defence 4 and Tropen bags (made under license for the MOD by FESCA), used with an improved/bigger wider throat version of the Goretex bivvy bag and a basha/tarp. There is also a polycotton liner to go with the main/outer bag. Both bags come with their own compression bags. The Medium/outer bag is extremely good, very warm (I've used it down to -10C with the polycotton liner - See my video), if bulky and heavy. In the UK I've never had the need to use both bags together. You can get the outer "Medium" bag for about £30 in grade 1 condition on it's own, I managed to get a combo deal of the Outer bag, bivvy bag, compression bag and liner, all unissued/new condition. I've got review videos on all these items (less the bivvy which I traded) on my channel. I don't own the lightweight/inner bag myself, my son has one, and the quality is just as good. This is essentially a summer/hot weather bag and includes an integral bug net over the head opening.
Hi. Great review. The British Army Arctic bag comes in two sizes. Medium and Large. I have the Large and used it Saturday night just gone, on International Bivvy Night. The zip only works from the inside because your ever only going to be inside of it. It’s also a ‘crash’ zip, to get out of it in an emergency. It just pulls apart with no damage to it. Combined with a Gortex British Army Bivvy bag, you don’t need anything else down to -20c. It was only -6c on Dartmoor at the weekend when I used mine. Didn’t want to get out though. All the best.👍🏾🇬🇧
Good relevant review. I’m 5’8” 180 and live in Texas. I have the US bag with all the pieces and it works for me. If I was up north and put the green bag together with the black and the bivy I could hardly carry it. Great video.
I like this video and it is much appreciated . Am surprised your bags are not heavier and rated for sub zero . Still using the North Face rated 20 degrees + poncho liner inside a military body bag . Yep ... body bag . Great for a water proof sleep system - mattress stuffed full of leaves and grass - hammock - improvised pack for carrying firewood and other stuff and a flotation device for crossing water . Thanks for your video .
I remember sleeping in a surplus mummy bag and mosquito net hammock in the very early 80s. I can only imagine they were from the 70s or 60s? VERY warm. Probably only suite for cool weather.
Dave there is a large size to the US modular sleep system you mush have the regular one.. give that to brook or the kids.. your son has probably already out grown it .. the US marine corp MSS has a center zipper like the British bag... I have the the 3 piece system. The gore tex bivy is awesome. with the self inflating pad in the bivy and the bags over it , it is great.. i can cram the light bag into a 10l dry bag.. what fun.. love the videos keep em coming.. you have a great master of all trades thing going on.. i learn a lot and keep a realistically adjusted attitude toward gear.. trying to stay rad.. J
Hey Jeff. I could never find a MSS bag that was larger than the next. I was told they exist, but could not confirm that they did, nor find one. I'll check out the marine bag.
Watching in 2023, this turned out to be helpful. Put me on the path of the current British modular sleep system which are exact copies of Carinthia bags but a fraction of the cost! The light bag is the Corinthia Tropen (with mosquito net) and the medium bag is the Carinthia Defence 4. Military version is ridiculous value.
THIS is the kind of comparisons we need. .Either way, to get a commercial bag of that quality would set you back a lot of coin. I've used the black MSS bag for several years and it's one of my favorite pieces of kit. Good video..
good comparison David....other than the MSS Bivy sack i use a feathered friends bag in winter and a cheap coleman bag in summer. i'm a warm sleeper so i can get away with using a fairly light bag...if i were looking for a one option system, them yes, the MSS is hard to beat...at only 5'9" 185 lbs i would not be able to find my way out of that big Bitish bag . i don't mind that my other bags don't snap into the Bivy sack...it all seems to work out anyways....thanks amigo...woods
Hey Woods how you doing buddy......yeah that british bag is huge, but its great for me. The mss system would be so cool if it was my size. I like a lot of the cheap Coleman stuff. I used to have Eureka tents but now I think all I still have is Coleman tents and they work just fine.
I used the US Army bag during the last 5-6 years of my career. I don’t think I ever actually got 8n side it. I typically just zipped it up a few inches to form a foot pocket then draped the bag ver the top of me. My coldest night out was probably 5-10°. Now, back when I first joined the Army, I used the Down Cold Weather Bag during Special Forces Mountain Survival Training in the Cascade Mountains of Washington and in Germany. That bag is awesome as long as you don’t have to carry it for miles and miles and miles. It kept me warm in temperatures as low as -50°. I still have one. I also have a couple extreme Cold Weather Bags from the Korean War filled with down. They each weigh about 12 pounds and are filled with down. They’re awesome bags but I don’t use them much because the fabric is getting brittle.
The US MSS comes in two sizes, it seems like you have the regular size. The larger one is supposed to handle soldiers up to 6'8" or so. Maybe you should look into the XL size?
Thanks Dave for this info on these Bag's/System. I'm 5'9" and alittle over 200lbs. not much. I have the MSS and I like it alot. What I really like is the way I can add the Green bag or take the Black bag out or what ever works for me to be comfortable. And, I really like the Bivy Sack for it too.
While these are both ok I think the best surplus bag is the Canadian Cold Weather sleeping system. Two down bags that can be used separately or together, a liner and a separate hood that ensures you don't breathe into your your bag and cause condensation. Doesn't have a bivy though and likely more expensive though the MSS system is now a lot more expensive at least in these parts.
Really enjoyed this video! I have 21 years of experience with the MSS. My only negative with it was the weight and it being to bulky. If you can get past that... its an excellent system. Thank you for doing this review and an honest perspective.
I'm an ex Royal marine 22 years service I slept with the old type British cold weather issue bag( not type 58 the old arctic issue one ) in the Acrtic circle (Finland) for nearly a week 3 nights we were just in the bag itself with a liner with a spruce base and a gortex overbag for waterproofness and I was never cold it got down to minus 30 c on occasion but the bag kept me toasty ..great bag but heavy as carrying a dwarf on your bergen but small price to pay to beat the cold . When your cold for hours on end your just plain miserable and sleep after excercise during the day is really important and a warm good nights kip is essential to functioning the next day especially on a long training course that lasts days or a week .
I know I am like four years late into the conversation, but my experience... I slept in the US one in Korea in Jan/Feb with wind chills down to -30F. I stayed perfectly warm in it while sleeping on the front slope of an M1A1 tank. I was 180ish pounds back then. They are designed to be sleeping naked so the layers can wick the moisture away from the body, otherwise you wake up soaking wet from sweat. I learned that the hard way when sleeping with BDUs on. It was crazy to wake up in the morning with the outer Gortex layer having a sheet of ice on it. That ice is from the water wicked away from the body. The only thing I hated about that sleeping bag was getting out of it in the morning. On a good note, being a tanker means having a huge turbine engine blowing hot air to warm me up as I got dressed. I've never used the British sleeping bag, but that hood on it seems like a great feature.
OH the hat! I don't think you'll find another one......its older than both of us put together. The liner inside is a flannel print of flying ducks. I bought it at a yard sale out of an old chest. I washed it twice ( it was filthy) and now I love it.
As a big guy just over 6'4", quick tip - the lighter weight "patrol" bag of the MSS (the green one) is nice and roomy because it has to be big enough to fit that really thick, bulky black bag inside it. That makes it very big guy friendly.
when I was around 12 or 13 one of my uncles gave me his army sleeping bag(mummy bag),it zipped up the top and left you a tiny hole to breath but man was it warm.oh it was narrow at the feet and wide at the top hence the name.wish I could remember what happened to it
OK some of your info is wrong, the British bag did come with a goretex bivvy which is still available, it also has ties inside to add an extra issue liner if more heat required, also it comes in 3 sizes med, large and extra large, the med and large have a midway zip, the longer only xl bag has a full length zip for tall people, it is normally used with zip inside but was designed to be used reversible if needed, and it also has a crash zip meaning you can pull the bag apart without touching the zip to get out quick, also strap on the bottom is for hanging to dry, they are rated at comfort - 10 degrees down to - 50extreme with bivvy and liner
The British bag is issued with the army goretex bivi but its just a bag you get in through the top no zip to get in and out and it's a lot bigger than the sleeping bag combine the two and they are very warm
Absolutely love the British bag I've got 3 of them. I am only small statur so there's loads of room to get my kit inside. I use mine with the US bive bag which is a great design.
I can understand the part about being to large for the army equipment. I have the intermediate MSS bag and the Gortex bivy supposed to be good down to 10F. Had to buy a compression sack separate. The thing I like about the component system. I can take only what I need. The Gortex bivy and a poncho liner are good down to about 45 degrees or so. If you wear cold weather gear you can go a bit lower but you may not be super warm. I usually get in the bag dressed then after the bag is warmed up 15 min or so get up and remove my coat and shirt. I roll them up and put them in the bag for a pillow. Keeps them warm and dry. Also another trick pn either bag. Turn the compression sack inside out and bring your boots inside the bag with you. It will keep the boots warm and dry. Yeah its not real comfortable but in the morning your boots will be warm.
Excellent comparison video... this is the info I've been lookin for! At 6'5" & 235, I've yet to find a sleeping bag that I would actually be able to sleep in. I'll be looking into the British bag. Thanks for the video....
I got a military "Casualties only" sleeping Bag, and it goes down to -65 F! That's at least what I saw on the internet since the tags are all worn out. Though it is real heavy and poofy.
Cool video of both products there. My 90 year old uncle had an old Canadian Military Arctic sleeping bag. I used it once during the warmer months and wow was I ever sweating in it in the morning. Know it was rated for over -40 C / -40 F. It was very thick and warm that's for sure. They sure don't make things like they used to.
I believe the British bag is paired with a light weight bag they call the "Tropen"... which is a warm weather bag more similar to our green US Patrol bag. They use it to increase the temperature rating. They also have a liner that can go inside the bag to further increase the cold weather usability. I only have the British bag you've got though. I agree 100%: Excellent, excellent bag!!
I served in the British army and I am very experienced with the British sleeping bag, we used to be issues a Bivvi bag and a bivvi shelter with the sleeping bag. But unfortunately you’d have to buy these separately 👍
Hey Dennis! A couple friends of mine from the Alone Series were also British military and they were stoked to see this bag when I brought it with me to the show. I didn't know it had a Bivvi that you could get for it but I'm already sold...as soon as I find one I'll buy it. Great bag In my opinion. I love how large it is.
Dennis I (Yank) live in Kent part of the year and know more than a few former British soldiers who were SBS - Royal Marines and SAS . Would like to know more about your experience with issued sleeping bags and kit . ATB to you .
Thanks for this video! Just getting back into cold weather camping. I unpacked my old "Slumberjack" zero bag the other day and it seems to have dramatically shrunk since I used it last... 🤔😜 Really tight around my shoulders, almost claustrophobic and the hood got pretty tight. That British bag looks like the ticket... I'll be looking for one of those, I kinda like the zipper in the middle too. Thanks again
They do the full length zip version aswel as the half zip version and there is also a british army goretex bivi bag specifically designed to fit the british sleeping bag. Bombproof bits of kit have used many times you can see them in some of my videos 👍👍
@@Bushradical yeah i think the full zip version was a later model... i have two.. brilliant bits of kit..i had a surplus one in grade A condition but lucky enough to come across an unissued one which i had to buy as they dont often come up unissued.
Nice review I have the MSS it gets a little tight when I combine both Bags and bivy the British bag looks very nice and may work for hammock camping in cold weather
@@Bushradical That sleeping bag was also known as the bouncing bomb by the British troops that used them. If you look up bouncing bomb you will see why. lol. ruclips.net/video/8zBp1NCbAr0/видео.html
The U.S. bag is meant as a system, not to be carried separately, just as when using it, you're supposed to have certain cold weather clothing on hand too. The synthetic fleece caps the U.S. army issues are perfect for dealing with the hood problem, and the multiple under- & top-layers of clothing they issue can drop the potential temperature rating by a LOT. At an even 6' tall, I definitely recommend the U.S. system, since you can scale it up or down as both insulation as well as padding.
Thanks Daniel. I'm a little confused..Being a 3 part system, why wouldn't there be a time when it was appropriate to use only the black bag? Or the green bag by itself...
It wouldn't be inappropriate for personal use as separate pieces, but the intended design is for them to be used together under all conditions. By keeping them snapped together, and only unsnapping the top layers as needed you can adjust how much padding is under you or on top of you. I know the whole system is very heavy and bulky to pack around, but with this system (and military issued clothing), I've been down to well below zero, but also in the Mojave desert in the summer. It's extremely versatile.
Very good and as always very informative. I like the features on both. Maybe the United States Government can come up with an mss that has more room in the upper torso and a bigger hood that would cover most of your face. Good points on both bags. Thanks for sharing Dave. ATB Mike
What is your experience with Carinthia sleeping bags? I use a D1200x with comfort temperature of - 37 degrees C = -34.6 ° Fahrenheit extreme is over 50 degrees celsius = -58 ° Fahrenheit. It is too hot to use other than at extreme temperatures. I hike at least once a year and camp in the open air with a varm sleeping pad when it's over - 30 C outside. Otherwise I use a Carinthai Wilderness but it is also too hot for the summer, then I prefer to sleep in the open air with a blanket and a real sleeping pad instead. I live in northern part of Sweden btw !! I live 62 miles from the the Arctic Circle !!
Great review Dave. Btw Merry Christmas to you and your family. What’s the literal weight of the green bag? I do a lot of hiking/backpacking. Carry weight is always something I am mindful of.
Merry Christmas Lake 13. As for the weight of the green bag.....its bulky and heavy!!! Its not a backpacking bag, let just put it that way. Probably 8 lbs
Very good review. Sounds like both bags are good choices. I'm under 6 ft so MSS system appeals to me. How much more wieght do the other components add?
.....good question. Really big guys get screwed when it comes to finding a good sleeping bag...The British bag is probably your best bet, but your bigger than me by a bit. The real problem is , "where do you go from the british bag"? Its not like manufacturers have a lot to offer big dudes. Of all the surplus bags I would say The British bag is the biggest, but maybe there are some mountaineering supply companies That make one bigger....I just don't know.
I really am liking the whole 4pc bag, ill do some colder weather camping soon hopefully to really test it. Im 5'11 and it fit comfy, It got cold enough to wake me up as I was only half in as i prefer colder temps but mid 40's woke me up and once i was zipped up super warm. The bivy is right on you so gotta get used to it if your claustrophobic. I would buy another.
As a matter of fact I'm in the market for a new bag. The British bag looks like something I'd definitely be interested in! I'm 6'4" 225lbs. Where would you suggest I look to purchase one of these Dave?
There are a couple different versions, but you can tell by the color. the new one is very light gray, the older version is the Black/green/ camo bivy. Just type in MSS sleeping bag on eBay and you find one right away.
Hi Dave, I have a question. I don't like the way the bags narrow at the feet. I like my room. Can I get a more rectangular bag in the military style? Or maybe non military bags that are of good quality without the narrowing at the feet. Thanks Larry
Hey Larry. I'm no expert on bags. I like the military stuff because its built well and cheap for what you get. I know Wiggy's bags are top shelf quality and they have some roomy bags, but they are gonna run you $250+ but in the world of expedition level sleeping bags thats not much really. If you don't plan to camp in cold weather than there are 100's of choices of rectangle bags with lots of room for little money.
I really can't recommend a site...I bought these bags both from a store called General Jim's in Clare Michigan. They have a website.....but not all there stuff shows up on it. If you call them and ask for something they may have it and it might have never made it on to their website. They might be your best bet actually .....but call.
I bought a used ms3 bag and was cold even with long underwear at about 30 degree's. Maybe it lost it's temp rating from compression or machine washing. Note to self,,,don't buy used stuff
the military made a waterproof sleeping bag, with hood, heavy, but you didnt need a bivvy, i recommend, a sleeping bag with arms, the reasons are obvious
I bought mine at a place called General Jim's army Surplus, in Clare MI. I also looked on eBay for them and there were several to choose from....I haven't looked in over a year though.
Hey Stephen, I probably wouldn't mess with the MSS bag. You're just too big my friend. I think Wiggies makes a really big bag for tall people. Maybe Marmot too.
The caretakers Gazette is just an advertisement platform....The people who actually HIRE you to caretake their place could be Great or terrible to deal with....people come in every kind of personality. The Gazette didn't play any part in the whole thing other than the add That we responded to.
I love that you explain everything that you do. I saw you on alone and wished you would have won. But thanks for explaining stuff! A lot of these other bush video guys don’t do that! So thanks!
I appreciate that!
I agree.!! God bless you guys!!
Sir. You may have just saved a 64-year-old mans life. I was fired from my job, had my electric and gas shut off for nonpayment. And now I'm being evicted from my home of 22 years. This is just the beginning of winter here in Michigan. I'm going to have to live in my car for at least 3 months. A couple of weeks before getting fired I bought a sleeping bag at a rummage sale for 5.00 dollars. Its the US. Military style that has everything but the storage bag. Its 38 degrees in my room tonight and I am warm as toast! At first I didn't know how to get into the bag and thought it was way to short. But, watching you I was able to get into it and zip it up. I don't know what the future is going to bring, but thank you for giving me a crack at surviving it!! God bless you son!
I'd love to know how you are. I hope you're ok
@@67wing I'm doing good, I got caught up in my lot rent so I didn't get evicted. I got my electric turned on and had just enough money to get a 20 pound pig tank to run my camp stove through the winter. Also, I found out that I could substitute Coleman fuel for lighter fluid and therefore keep my hand warmer blazing through the whole winter! So here we are in spring again, praise God! 😁
@@jamesrogalski2085 that's great to hear. Thanks for the quick reply. Yes, praise God, and may he bless us all in the coming years. Take care
I have a couple of buddies with the military bag, and I always wondered about the quality on these. The fact that you took one of these on Alone is testament to decent quality. Thanks for the review!
The British bag is more solid too. But the mss is very good quality too.
The M-1949 looks like it'd make a decent top-quilt for a hammock. I like that it doesn't unzip all the way down to the feet.
Great video Dave. I’ve had all four parts of the ECWSS (goretex bivouac bag, patrol bag, intermediate bag and compression sack) for a few years. At 6’ 1” and 240 this system has worked well for me and I like the versatility of the system. My only real test of the system came when I was sleeping in a hammock. The low temperature overnight was supposed to in the 40’s (the patrol bag is supposed to be good to 30 degrees Fahrenheit) with light rain. The weather forecast was a little off. The temperature where I was camping got down to 25 (my thermometer reading), 20 mph winds (my best guess) and the rain wasn’t light (thunderstorm). I wasn’t toasty in the patrol bag with the bivy but I wasn’t freezing (cool side of comfortable) and I slept well most of the night (except for big claps of thunder). We are in agreement that bag is a tad tight in the shoulders but I’ve always been able to close the face opening down to suit me. Thanks for posting this video I’ll check out the British sleeping bag, I’d never considered it.
Its huge in comparison to the mss. Wider longer and heavier than the cold bag by a lot, but the thing that great about it is the hood.
I use a homemade el cheapo, it is 100% wool surplus blankets with a waxed canvas shell, it rolls up tight uses large buttons and there is room for two if needed. I had the old US cold weather bag years ago, I can't remember why I quit using it. Good Yule to you and your family.
Hey Spear Brave! Sounds like a nice rig. I thought about making something so it fits me the way I wanted.....but I haven't done it yet, LOL. I bought the british bag just to take out on Alone. There were size limits on how big of a bag you could take ( It had to fit in certain dimensions when compressed) ...And this was the heaviest bag I could squeeze into those dimensions.
Dave, I am 6'1" 193. Thin yes always have been. But I own a Surplus USMC extreme cold weather bag. I found at a flea market several yrs ago. I did have to do some minor sewing repair work to the foot. But the rest of the bag is there and in great shape. I sometimes snuggle down into the warmpth , to avoid turning on be my costly heater. This bag in about five minutes will have you unzipping and throwing open, it gets really warm and quickly. The first night I used this bag , the temperature was in the mid 20's now that's cold here for us Floridians. I felt like my blood was boiling and I was laying in a frying pan. I do own other military surplus sleeping bags, but hands down this USMC bag is my favorite for very cold temperatures. The woman I bought this from said if I didn't buy it she would most likely burn it!! Because of it's bulkiness and heavy weight. And I paid $80 bucks. I love that bag..
Stay safe in the woods.
great bags for sure. I used the green bag as a liner in my British military bag....I went camping last saturday and was toasty
Just to add a little about the British bag reviewed here, this is the Arctic bag issued from around the 90's through to mid 2000's - if memory serves. (Army reservist 85-99)
The Army now uses an MSS based on the Carinthia Defence 4 and Tropen bags (made under license for the MOD by FESCA), used with an improved/bigger wider throat version of the Goretex bivvy bag and a basha/tarp. There is also a polycotton liner to go with the main/outer bag. Both bags come with their own compression bags.
The Medium/outer bag is extremely good, very warm (I've used it down to -10C with the polycotton liner - See my video), if bulky and heavy. In the UK I've never had the need to use both bags together. You can get the outer "Medium" bag for about £30 in grade 1 condition on it's own, I managed to get a combo deal of the Outer bag, bivvy bag, compression bag and liner, all unissued/new condition. I've got review videos on all these items (less the bivvy which I traded) on my channel. I don't own the lightweight/inner bag myself, my son has one, and the quality is just as good. This is essentially a summer/hot weather bag and includes an integral bug net over the head opening.
Hi. Great review.
The British Army Arctic bag comes in two sizes. Medium and Large. I have the Large and used it Saturday night just gone, on International Bivvy Night.
The zip only works from the inside because your ever only going to be inside of it.
It’s also a ‘crash’ zip, to get out of it in an emergency. It just pulls apart with no damage to it. Combined with a Gortex British Army Bivvy bag, you don’t need anything else down to -20c.
It was only -6c on Dartmoor at the weekend when I used mine. Didn’t want to get out though.
All the best.👍🏾🇬🇧
Good relevant review. I’m 5’8” 180 and live in Texas. I have the US bag with all the pieces and it works for me. If I was up north and put the green bag together with the black and the bivy I could hardly carry it. Great video.
Its a pig of a bundle when you have both bags and the bivey. Thanks for the comment Dan, Merry Christmas.
I'm 5'11" average frame and the MSS bag fits me perfectly, I only wish that I 'lost' mine when I left the service.
I like this video and it is much appreciated . Am surprised your bags are not heavier and rated for sub zero . Still using the North Face rated 20 degrees + poncho liner inside a military body bag . Yep ... body bag . Great for a water proof sleep system - mattress stuffed full of leaves and grass - hammock - improvised pack for carrying firewood and other stuff and a flotation device for crossing water .
Thanks for your video .
A body bag....thats a new one.
I remember sleeping in a surplus mummy bag and mosquito net hammock in the very early 80s. I can only imagine they were from the 70s or 60s? VERY warm. Probably only suite for cool weather.
I just now started following you . You do pretty good videos and it's not the same ol same ol that everybody else does !
Thanks! I appreciate that.
I just got the british bag and I am beyond impressed with it, thanks for the recommendation!!!
Dave there is a large size to the US modular sleep system you mush have the regular one.. give that to brook or the kids.. your son has probably already out grown it .. the US marine corp MSS has a center zipper like the British bag... I have the the 3 piece system. The gore tex bivy is awesome. with the self inflating pad in the bivy and the bags over it , it is great.. i can cram the light bag into a 10l dry bag.. what fun.. love the videos keep em coming.. you have a great master of all trades thing going on.. i learn a lot and keep a realistically adjusted attitude toward gear.. trying to stay rad.. J
Hey Jeff. I could never find a MSS bag that was larger than the next. I was told they exist, but could not confirm that they did, nor find one. I'll check out the marine bag.
You can get the British Pattern 90 Arctic,like you have there,in 2 sizes. The Medium and the Long.
All the best.👍🏾🇬🇧
Watching in 2023, this turned out to be helpful. Put me on the path of the current British modular sleep system which are exact copies of Carinthia bags but a fraction of the cost! The light bag is the Corinthia Tropen (with mosquito net) and the medium bag is the Carinthia Defence 4. Military version is ridiculous value.
Great video👍🏻 5’7” here so mss for me. Plus my brother was in the military and he swears by them.
Awesome gear , its just small for me. I wish they made a XXL
Man you cover a lot of different good stuff ! I have the U.S. sleep system it’s awesome with the bivy! I do like that British bag!
Liked, shared and commenting. Had the British in the Army. It was often hot. But I’m a big guy.
That is an awesome hat. Good information on the bags too.
Thanks Bob. The hat is really old.
Nice review Dave! I'd probably prefer the green one but I'd add more foot insulation... my feet get cold!!
I slept with a huge rock at my feet , heated up in the fire. Keeps your feet toasty!
THIS is the kind of comparisons we need. .Either way, to get a commercial bag of that quality would set you back a lot of coin. I've used the black MSS bag for several years and it's one of my favorite pieces of kit. Good video..
good comparison David....other than the MSS Bivy sack i use a feathered friends bag in winter and a cheap coleman bag in summer.
i'm a warm sleeper so i can get away with using a fairly light bag...if i were looking for a one option system, them yes, the MSS is hard to beat...at only 5'9" 185 lbs i would not be able to find my way out of that big Bitish bag .
i don't mind that my other bags don't snap into the Bivy sack...it all seems to work out anyways....thanks amigo...woods
Hey Woods how you doing buddy......yeah that british bag is huge, but its great for me. The mss system would be so cool if it was my size. I like a lot of the cheap Coleman stuff. I used to have Eureka tents but now I think all I still have is Coleman tents and they work just fine.
Loving this channel!
Thanks Joe!!
I think i would go with the UK Military bag as its larger and the hood is big and i am also a big guy so it would be a winner.
I used the US Army bag during the last 5-6 years of my career. I don’t think I ever actually got 8n side it. I typically just zipped it up a few inches to form a foot pocket then draped the bag ver the top of me. My coldest night out was probably 5-10°.
Now, back when I first joined the Army, I used the Down Cold Weather Bag during Special Forces Mountain Survival Training in the Cascade Mountains of Washington and in Germany. That bag is awesome as long as you don’t have to carry it for miles and miles and miles. It kept me warm in temperatures as low as -50°. I still have one.
I also have a couple extreme Cold Weather Bags from the Korean War filled with down. They each weigh about 12 pounds and are filled with down. They’re awesome bags but I don’t use them much because the fabric is getting brittle.
The US MSS comes in two sizes, it seems like you have the regular size. The larger one is supposed to handle soldiers up to 6'8" or so. Maybe you should look into the XL size?
Ive heard that same thing before, but Ive never found an XL size
Thanks
Thanks Jorge
Thanks Dave for this info on these Bag's/System. I'm 5'9" and alittle over 200lbs. not much. I have the MSS and I like it alot. What I really like is the way I can add the Green bag or take the Black bag out or what ever works for me to be comfortable. And, I really like the Bivy Sack for it too.
I like it too....its just a bit small for me.
While these are both ok I think the best surplus bag is the Canadian Cold Weather sleeping system. Two down bags that can be used separately or together, a liner and a separate hood that ensures you don't breathe into your your bag and cause condensation. Doesn't have a bivy though and likely more expensive though the MSS system is now a lot more expensive at least in these parts.
Really enjoyed this video! I have 21 years of experience with the MSS. My only negative with it was the weight and it being to bulky. If you can get past that... its an excellent system. Thank you for doing this review and an honest perspective.
Thanks QS.
Merry Christmas Dave and family, from me and my family in the Southern Interior of BC Canada. Best Regards Chris (Woodsman Spirit).
Merry Christmas Chris!
I'm an ex Royal marine 22 years service I slept with the old type British cold weather issue bag( not type 58 the old arctic issue one ) in the Acrtic circle (Finland) for nearly a week 3 nights we were just in the bag itself with a liner with a spruce base and a gortex overbag for waterproofness and I was never cold it got down to minus 30 c on occasion but the bag kept me toasty ..great bag but heavy as carrying a dwarf on your bergen but small price to pay to beat the cold . When your cold for hours on end your just plain miserable and sleep after excercise during the day is really important and a warm good nights kip is essential to functioning the next day especially on a long training course that lasts days or a week .
Fantastic bag. I couldnt find a bivy or a liner that went with it but the bag is great
I know I am like four years late into the conversation, but my experience... I slept in the US one in Korea in Jan/Feb with wind chills down to -30F. I stayed perfectly warm in it while sleeping on the front slope of an M1A1 tank. I was 180ish pounds back then. They are designed to be sleeping naked so the layers can wick the moisture away from the body, otherwise you wake up soaking wet from sweat. I learned that the hard way when sleeping with BDUs on. It was crazy to wake up in the morning with the outer Gortex layer having a sheet of ice on it. That ice is from the water wicked away from the body. The only thing I hated about that sleeping bag was getting out of it in the morning. On a good note, being a tanker means having a huge turbine engine blowing hot air to warm me up as I got dressed.
I've never used the British sleeping bag, but that hood on it seems like a great feature.
Great point on the hood. I like the idea of putting a pillow in it.
Hey Scott! You could put 2 pillows in it...its huge!
Forget the bags I'm diggin' the hat lol. Nice job Dave!
OH the hat! I don't think you'll find another one......its older than both of us put together. The liner inside is a flannel print of flying ducks. I bought it at a yard sale out of an old chest. I washed it twice ( it was filthy) and now I love it.
Great comparison. Thanks! I wasn’t too familiar with the British bag. I’ll have to keep my eye out for one of those.
When I bought mine over year ago, there were quite a few around, now they seem harder to find. But its surplus, so they will come and go in waves.
As a big guy just over 6'4", quick tip - the lighter weight "patrol" bag of the MSS (the green one) is nice and roomy because it has to be big enough to fit that really thick, bulky black bag inside it. That makes it very big guy friendly.
right on
when I was around 12 or 13 one of my uncles gave me his army sleeping bag(mummy bag),it zipped up the top and left you a tiny hole to breath but man was it warm.oh it was narrow at the feet and wide at the top hence the name.wish I could remember what happened to it
My hubby still has one of those, very warm.
OK some of your info is wrong, the British bag did come with a goretex bivvy which is still available, it also has ties inside to add an extra issue liner if more heat required, also it comes in 3 sizes med, large and extra large, the med and large have a midway zip, the longer only xl bag has a full length zip for tall people, it is normally used with zip inside but was designed to be used reversible if needed, and it also has a crash zip meaning you can pull the bag apart without touching the zip to get out quick, also strap on the bottom is for hanging to dry, they are rated at comfort - 10 degrees down to - 50extreme with bivvy and liner
Thanks for the info. I couldnt find any info on the bag other than what the local store could pass on
Great info! Thank you.
The British bag is issued with the army goretex bivi but its just a bag you get in through the top no zip to get in and out and it's a lot bigger than the sleeping bag combine the two and they are very warm
thanks for the tip
Thanks Dave: good run down. Merry Christmas. Brian 77
Thanks Brian. Merry Christmas Buddy.
Brook would get completely lost in the green one!🥴🥴😂😂😂❣️❣️❣️
Absolutely love the British bag I've got 3 of them. I am only small statur so there's loads of room to get my kit inside. I use mine with the US bive bag which is a great design.
They are a pretty awesome bag. I think a fleece liner would be awesome with one.
I'm 5'8" so the Mss is perfect for me.
I wish it worked for me because its a fantastic system.
Merry Christmas Dave!
Merry Christmas HermanSr!
Another solid review Dave.
Hey Dano. Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Same to you and Brooke Merry Christmas!
Hi Dave, great video bud, thanks for sharing, Rock On!
Hey Z! Merry Christmas buddy!
Hey Z...Where is you Salmon pic taken?
Your...
Hi Dave, pretty sure that was the Manistee trip, Rock On!
I can understand the part about being to large for the army equipment.
I have the intermediate MSS bag and the Gortex bivy supposed to be good down to 10F.
Had to buy a compression sack separate.
The thing I like about the component system. I can take only what I need.
The Gortex bivy and a poncho liner are good down to about 45 degrees or so. If you wear cold weather gear you can go a bit lower but you may not be super warm.
I usually get in the bag dressed then after the bag is warmed up 15 min or so get up and remove my coat and shirt.
I roll them up and put them in the bag for a pillow. Keeps them warm and dry.
Also another trick pn either bag.
Turn the compression sack inside out and bring your boots inside the bag with you.
It will keep the boots warm and dry.
Yeah its not real comfortable but in the morning your boots will be warm.
Good tip!
Excellent comparison video... this is the info I've been lookin for!
At 6'5" & 235, I've yet to find a sleeping bag that I would actually be able to sleep in. I'll be looking into the British bag.
Thanks for the video....
I would call that guy at Wiggy's and tell him what you need......The british bag is big, but at 6'5" it might be small. Good luck
I got a military "Casualties only" sleeping Bag, and it goes down to -65 F! That's at least what I saw on the internet since the tags are all worn out. Though it is real heavy and poofy.
I would buy one of those in a minute! The warmer the better.
Excellent real world input! Does anyone have any experience with the Canadian military sleep system?
Good video... good ifno.
Cool video of both products there. My 90 year old uncle had an old Canadian Military Arctic sleeping bag. I used it once during the warmer months and wow was I ever sweating in it in the morning. Know it was rated for over -40 C / -40 F. It was very thick and warm that's for sure. They sure don't make things like they used to.
No they dont. for sure
@@Bushradical yuppers
I believe the British bag is paired with a light weight bag they call the "Tropen"... which is a warm weather bag more similar to our green US Patrol bag. They use it to increase the temperature rating. They also have a liner that can go inside the bag to further increase the cold weather usability.
I only have the British bag you've got though. I agree 100%: Excellent, excellent bag!!
I could be wrong. The one I've got is apparently called the British Modular Sleeping Bag System. Looks pretty similar though.
I sure like my bag.
This bag featured is the Pattern 90 Arctic. Your on about the newer Medium bag,part of the 4 piece system.All the best.👍🏾🇬🇧
I served in the British army and I am very experienced with the British sleeping bag, we used to be issues a Bivvi bag and a bivvi shelter with the sleeping bag. But unfortunately you’d have to buy these separately 👍
Hey Dennis! A couple friends of mine from the Alone Series were also British military and they were stoked to see this bag when I brought it with me to the show. I didn't know it had a Bivvi that you could get for it but I'm already sold...as soon as I find one I'll buy it. Great bag In my opinion. I love how large it is.
Dennis
I (Yank) live in Kent part of the year and know more than a few former British soldiers who were SBS - Royal Marines and SAS . Would like to know more about your experience with issued sleeping bags and kit . ATB to you .
Bivvi shelter? Was it a one man tent?
@@cautious1343, it was a Basha/Shelter Sheet, aka a Tarp.
@@alexanderfoster5497 Thanks man.
Thanks for this video! Just getting back into cold weather camping. I unpacked my old "Slumberjack" zero bag the other day and it seems to have dramatically shrunk since I used it last... 🤔😜 Really tight around my shoulders, almost claustrophobic and the hood got pretty tight. That British bag looks like the ticket... I'll be looking for one of those, I kinda like the zipper in the middle too. Thanks again
It a good sized bag for sure. Good luck
Thanks Dave!
Thank you John. Merry Christmas.
They do the full length zip version aswel as the half zip version and there is also a british army goretex bivi bag specifically designed to fit the british sleeping bag. Bombproof bits of kit have used many times you can see them in some of my videos 👍👍
Thats good to know. Ive never seen the full zip version but that sounds like what I would choose if I had the choice
@@Bushradical yeah i think the full zip version was a later model... i have two.. brilliant bits of kit..i had a surplus one in grade A condition but lucky enough to come across an unissued one which i had to buy as they dont often come up unissued.
If you need a bivi, you can use the Brit bag. Or a Dutch bivi, which opens up on top like the zip.
Thanks
Awesome review and comparison. Now I just have to figure out where to get the mss system...
Ebay, or any army surplus store. They are super common.
You can get an issued bivi bag and liner, the only issued liner was sand coloured for Iraq Ops. The bivi bag is a brown green.
For the MSS? I actually have the bevy and the liner for the MSS, but I would like one for the British bag.
Just the video I needed!!! Thank you!!!
Good deal Tony. Hope it helped.
Nice review I have the MSS it gets a little tight when I combine both Bags and bivy the British bag looks very nice and may work for hammock camping in cold weather
Give it a try.
Get a military body bag for sleep system and hammock . ATB
Love your channel
Apart from being on the heavy side the old British cold weather sleeping bag is a brilliant piece of kit. I would never ever part with mine. Subbed.
Thanks Sean. And thanks for the sub
@@Bushradical That sleeping bag was also known as the bouncing bomb by the British troops that used them. If you look up bouncing bomb you will see why. lol. ruclips.net/video/8zBp1NCbAr0/видео.html
The U.S. bag is meant as a system, not to be carried separately, just as when using it, you're supposed to have certain cold weather clothing on hand too. The synthetic fleece caps the U.S. army issues are perfect for dealing with the hood problem, and the multiple under- & top-layers of clothing they issue can drop the potential temperature rating by a LOT. At an even 6' tall, I definitely recommend the U.S. system, since you can scale it up or down as both insulation as well as padding.
Thanks Daniel. I'm a little confused..Being a 3 part system, why wouldn't there be a time when it was appropriate to use only the black bag? Or the green bag by itself...
It wouldn't be inappropriate for personal use as separate pieces, but the intended design is for them to be used together under all conditions. By keeping them snapped together, and only unsnapping the top layers as needed you can adjust how much padding is under you or on top of you. I know the whole system is very heavy and bulky to pack around, but with this system (and military issued clothing), I've been down to well below zero, but also in the Mojave desert in the summer. It's extremely versatile.
This review is very much appreciated. I'm 6'1" so the hood would work for me perfectly. Kihelakayo, my friend ... "Keep Going!" God Bless
Thanks Dave
Very good and as always very informative. I like the features on both. Maybe the United States Government can come up with an mss that has more room in the upper torso and a bigger hood that would cover most of your face. Good points on both bags. Thanks for sharing Dave. ATB Mike
Thanks Mike. I do love the mss....but Its just too small for me.
Good information!
Thanks Bill.
you got me sold those are very good bags for the price
If I was a lot smaller I would be in love with the mss system.....I'm just too fat and tall
What is your experience with Carinthia sleeping bags? I use a D1200x with comfort temperature of - 37 degrees C = -34.6 ° Fahrenheit extreme is over 50 degrees celsius = -58 ° Fahrenheit. It is too hot to use other than at extreme temperatures. I hike at least once a year and camp in the open air with a varm sleeping pad when it's over - 30 C outside. Otherwise I use a Carinthai Wilderness but it is also too hot for the summer, then I prefer to sleep in the open air with a blanket and a real sleeping pad instead.
I live in northern part of Sweden btw !! I live 62 miles from the the Arctic Circle !!
Man this is a great video. Thanks.
Thanks
Great review Dave. Btw Merry Christmas to you and your family. What’s the literal weight of the green bag? I do a lot of hiking/backpacking. Carry weight is always something I am mindful of.
Merry Christmas Lake 13. As for the weight of the green bag.....its bulky and heavy!!! Its not a backpacking bag, let just put it that way. Probably 8 lbs
Very good review. Sounds like both bags are good choices. I'm under 6 ft so MSS system appeals to me. How much more wieght do the other components add?
Its a pretty bulky set up with the bivey and the patrol bag....but its solid and all three together would be a really warm set up.
I have the black one
good bag
People in sleeping bags are the soft tacos of the bear world.
Where can I get either one? I was wondering if maybe General Jim's?
I’m looking on eBay on them now and they want 150 dollars for surplus bags. Am I looking at something wrong?!
Im 6'5 and 275 with big shoulders, do the think the british bag would work
.....good question. Really big guys get screwed when it comes to finding a good sleeping bag...The British bag is probably your best bet, but your bigger than me by a bit. The real problem is , "where do you go from the british bag"? Its not like manufacturers have a lot to offer big dudes. Of all the surplus bags I would say The British bag is the biggest, but maybe there are some mountaineering supply companies That make one bigger....I just don't know.
I’d rather know where I can get that hat
the US military bag would be perfect for me since I'm a shorty but I'm not small
As long as you're shorter that 6' , you should be fine.
I really am liking the whole 4pc bag, ill do some colder weather camping soon hopefully to really test it. Im 5'11 and it fit comfy, It got cold enough to wake me up as I was only half in as i prefer colder temps but mid 40's woke me up and once i was zipped up super warm. The bivy is right on you so gotta get used to it if your claustrophobic. I would buy another.
As a matter of fact I'm in the market for a new bag. The British bag looks like something I'd definitely be interested in! I'm 6'4" 225lbs. Where would you suggest I look to purchase one of these Dave?
Hey Timothy! Check any local army surplus store, or of course Ebay. I bought this one at General Jim's surplus in Clare Mi.
Bushradical is there a specific model or model number I should be looking for?
There are a couple different versions, but you can tell by the color. the new one is very light gray, the older version is the Black/green/ camo bivy. Just type in MSS sleeping bag on eBay and you find one right away.
Bushradical I'm looking for the British version.
Is the British one synthetic or down insulation? I know the mss is synthetic.
You should look in to the Canadian forces sleep system. It’s good too
Synthetic
@@Bushradical out of curiosity how tall are you? I don’t remember if that was mentioned.
Big boys need a Big Bed!! Merry Christmas to you and yours Dave!
Merry Christmas Aaron.
Does anyone know if
asbestos was ever used in old military sleeping bags? 1945-1967ish
I have no idea, but I doubt it
Great video... is there a size marked on the British Bag?... any identification at all?
thanks
I don't believe so but I'll check.....I'm in AK right now and I'm sleeping in it every night.
Hi Dave, I have a question. I don't like the way the bags narrow at the feet. I like my room. Can I get a more rectangular bag in the military style? Or maybe non military bags that are of good quality without the narrowing at the feet. Thanks Larry
Hey Larry. I'm no expert on bags. I like the military stuff because its built well and cheap for what you get. I know Wiggy's bags are top shelf quality and they have some roomy bags, but they are gonna run you $250+ but in the world of expedition level sleeping bags thats not much really. If you don't plan to camp in cold weather than there are 100's of choices of rectangle bags with lots of room for little money.
Great video, can you recommend a site to get surplus gear from.
I really can't recommend a site...I bought these bags both from a store called General Jim's in Clare Michigan. They have a website.....but not all there stuff shows up on it. If you call them and ask for something they may have it and it might have never made it on to their website. They might be your best bet actually .....but call.
I bought a used ms3 bag and was cold even with long underwear at about 30 degree's. Maybe it lost it's temp rating from compression or machine washing. Note to self,,,don't buy used stuff
I think with the two bags together you could get lower than 30......but bags are never as warm as their rating. EVER
I'm 6ft1 would I need the medium size or large?
Just FYI, the British bag is available in standard and long versions. As you are 6'2", that must be the long one. ;o)
I'm sure it must be. it has lots of room.
What's the temperature rating for the British military bag?
Not sure. It kept me good down to about 20 above......so its probably rated for -50 knowing how they rate sleeping bags! LOL
the military made a waterproof sleeping bag, with hood, heavy, but you didnt need a bivvy, i recommend, a sleeping bag with arms, the reasons are obvious
The next time I see one I'll try it to see how it feels.
Do you have preferred vendor for the British bag? I'm 6'5" 250 lbs.
I bought mine at a place called General Jim's army Surplus, in Clare MI. I also looked on eBay for them and there were several to choose from....I haven't looked in over a year though.
Bushradical thanks for the reply, I'll try both...
Hey Stephen, I probably wouldn't mess with the MSS bag. You're just too big my friend. I think Wiggies makes a really big bag for tall people. Maybe Marmot too.
180
?
How was your experience using Caretakers Gazette? I am in Ontario and interested in working somewhere in the Yukon area
The caretakers Gazette is just an advertisement platform....The people who actually HIRE you to caretake their place could be Great or terrible to deal with....people come in every kind of personality. The Gazette didn't play any part in the whole thing other than the add That we responded to.
Oh I see. Thank you
Bets of luck with caretaking!
Thanks, not sure where to begin
Nowadays with the internet, you can probably see lots of pics of anywhere you might want to caretake, and pick the place you like.